Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon

Colour: Mauve, dark centre. Nose: Broodingly un-giving at first?With a little coaxing a varietal ascension of briar, blackcurrant, mulberry and tomato-leaf aromatics. Without as much as a swirl, saddle-leather, cantaloupe skin complexities appear, as do wafts of pencil-shavings oak. Convincingly, Cabernet. Palate: Focused. Flavours of stewed beetroot meshed with dark liqueured cherry, and a spray of menthol/spearmint. A carpaccio/tartare fleshiness underpinned by beef-stock, powdery tannins. One barrel in three new? How?! Food Matches: Slowly roasted garlic and rosemary infused lamb shoulder with kalimata olives, grilled capsicum, zucchini and heirloom tomatoes.

Cabernet Sauvignon pairs nicely with foods high in fat and protein, including steak, duck, and game. It's a great complement to hearty stews, ribs, and dark, rich sauces.